My thoughts on the Phillies season.

Moyer is once again denied his 250th career victory as the Phils lose to the Dodgers, 9-2.

For his third straight start, Jamie Moyer is denied his 250th career win, as he is once again knocked out of the box in spite of a good start as the Phils are beaten by the Dodgers, 9-2.

The Phils took a quick 1-0 lead in the second as Jimmy Rollins hits a lead-off solo home run, his second home run of the season. The Dodgers tied the game up at one-all in the fourth, as, with a runner on second, and nobody out, Orlando Hudson hits an RBI double, knocking in Rafael Furcal, who had earlier doubled. Three batters later, the Dodgers would take the lead, as, with one out, and runners on the corners, James Loney hits a three-run home run, his first home run of the season, scoring Hudson, who had gone to third on Andre Ethier’s ground out to first, 3-unassisted, and Russell Martin, who had just walked, giving the Dodgers a 4-1 lead. The Dodgers would make it 5-1, as, with two men on, and still one out, Matt Kemp, who had earlier singled and had gone to second on Casey Blake’s single, would score all the way from second on Dodgers’ starter Randy Wolf’s sacrifice bunt, while Blake, who had earlier singled, would move on to second base. The Dodgers would add to their lead in the fifth, as, with runners on the corners, and one out, Loney hits an RBI single, knocking in Hudson, who had earlier doubled and had gone to third on Martin’s single, giving the Dodgers a 6-1 lead, while sending Martin to second base. After Kemp had walked to load the bases, Blake made it a 7-1 Dodgers lead by hitting a sacrifice fly, scoring Martin, while sending Loney to third base. The Dodgers would increase their lead to 9-1 in the top of the ninth, as, with a runner on base, and two outs, Kemp hits a two-run home run, his seventh home run of the year, as he knocked in Kemp, who had earlier singled. The Phils got a run back in their half of the ninth, as Raul Ibanez hits a lead-off solo home run, his tenth home run of the year, making it a 9-2 Dodgers lead. But that would be the game, as Dodgers’ manager Joe Torrie would then send out two relievers to stop any possible Phillies rally.

Jamie Moyer took the lost, once again denied his 250th career win, as he would only go four and a third innings, giving up seven runs on eight hits and a walk, while striking out one. His record is now 3-3 with a rather high ERA of 8.15. J.A. Happ pitched two-thirds of an inning in relief, giving up no runs on one hit and a walk. Jack Taschner pitched two scoreless innings, giving up just two hits and two walks, while striking out one. Clay Condrey also pitched two innings, giving up two runs on three hits, while striking out two. Randy Wolf got the win as he pitched six strong innings, giving up only a run on three hits and three walks, while striking out eight. His record is now 2-1 with a 2.77 ERA. Ramon Troncoso pitched an inning and a third of relief, giving up no runs on one hit and a walk. Will Ohman pitched two thirds of an inning, plus one batter, giving up one run on one hit. James McDonald pitched a third of an inning, giving up a walk. Brent Leach pitched two-thirds of an inning, giving up no runs or hits, while striking out a batter.

The Phillies only got five hits in the game, with Carlos Ruiz leading the team with two hits, both doubles. Jimmy Rollins, Raul Ibanez and Jayson Werth got the other three Phillies’ hits, with Rollins and Ibanez’s hits being solo home runs, accounting for the Phils only runs. The Phillies’ bats have been a bit sluggish during the last several days, while most of their starters have been getting better.

The Phillies (16-15, 2nd) are presently playing the final game of their home stand with the Dodgers (23-12, 1st National League West). The Phillies’ starter is their ace Cole Hamels (1-2, 6.17), who is coming off his win against the Braves on May 8, where he went six innings, giving up only two runs on three hits and two walks, while he struck out seven, in the Phils’ 10-6 win. He is trying to even his record, while going out to produce his second straight quality start without a freak injury. The Dodgers will counter with Chad Billingsley (5-1, 2.45), who is coming off a lost against the Giants on May 8, where he went seven inning, giving up three runs on eight hits and four walks, while striking out five, in the Dodgers’ 3-1 lost. He will be trying for his sixth win of the season. The Phils will be trying to win the series with the Dodgers so that they can leave Citizens Bank Park with a split in their six-games home stand, before they go off to Washington, D.C. for four games with the Nationals.

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